UN proposes Libyan unity government and presidential council

RABAT, Morocco — The United Nations has presented its proposal to reconcile Libya’s warring factions into a unity government.

The document released Tuesday envisions a “presidential council of independent personalities” leading the divided nation.

Libya is split between east and west, with rival parliaments backed by warring militias. The elected, internationally recognized parliament has been forced out of the capital, Tripoli, and operates from the eastern city of Tobruk. Meanwhile an earlier parliament remains in Tripoli and has declared itself legitimate.

The two sides have been through several rounds of negotiations in Morocco and U.N. special envoy Bernardino Leon was in Libya Monday to push for a deal.

Leon’s proposal would also establish the elected Tobruk-based parliament as Libya’s true legislative branch — a key concession from Tripoli.